Dementia

Our passion lies in dementia care and we understand the demands that the condition places on the individual and families as the condition progresses.

Dementia care presents specific challenges therefore it is important that the senior management team continually refer to current guidance and good practice to ensure that our care homes offer dementia care in safe, supportive, specially adapted environments that maximise a person’s independence and enhance their self-esteem.

Our residents have the opportunity to move around safely and enjoy their home to the full thanks to defined areas, the use of contrasting colour and appropriate signage that is clearly worded and illustrated.

We understand the importance of access to the outdoors as it provides the opportunity for exercise, fresh air, relieves tension and anxiety and offers personal space for reflection and privacy. Regency Hall has a large private and safe garden where people can move around safely. The sensory garden enhances the outdoor experience through smells, touch and sounds.

We use the person’s life story to build a picture of their preferences, lifestyle, history, family, likes and dislikes. The team are trained in completing detailed outcome focused care plans with the help of residents, their family and friends. These plans are used daily and help to maintain the identity and dignity of the person when their condition progresses or changes, providing important information, such as how they like their cup of tea, or preference with personal care routines. Life stories help people to express themselves as often the long term memory is less impaired and it can help people to find well-being by recounting positive aspects of their life.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, it typically begins with lapses in memory, mood swings and difficulty in word finding. Later the person may become confused and may find it difficult to understand what is being said or read facial expressions.

Vascular dementia describes all forms of dementia caused by damage to the blood vessels to the brain. Symptoms can occur suddenly after a stroke or over time through a series of small strokes known as multi infarct dementia.

Frontal lobe dementia including Pick’s disease, is a form of dementia where damage to brain cells is more localised than in Alzheimer’s disease, usually beginning in the front part of the brain. Initially personality and behaviour are more affected than memory, but in the later stages symptoms are similar to those of Alzheimer’s disease.

Dementia with Lewy bodies gets its name from the tiny spherical structures made of proteins that develop inside nerve cells. Their presence in the brain leads to the degeneration and death of brain tissue, affecting memory, concentration and language skills. People with Lewy bodies may have visual hallucinations. They may also develop physical problems such as slowness of movement, stiffness and tremor.

As our population continues to grow older, more and more of us are likely to know someone living with dementia and it is important to know you are not alone. There are currently 800,000 people living with dementia in the UK with that number set to rise to over one million by 2021. Knowing how to care for a loved one who may be experiencing the symptoms of dementia can help them to continue to live happy and fulfilling lives.